March 28, 2024

Select real estate records to be available online

In the near future, citizens of Jasper County will have an easier way to access county real estate and survey records.

On Tuesday, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved a more than $41,000 scanning project at the behest of the Jasper County Recorder’s Office.

The board tabled its vote on the matter during last week’s meeting after Nancy Parrott, county recorder, informed them that Columbus, Ohio-based Cott Systems — which will conduct the scanning and store the backup scans — amended the contract last Monday.

This week, Denise Allan, deputy recorder, informed the board that Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen had reviewed and signed off on the updated contract.

“I think it’s long since due, and I think it’s very critical,” said board member Dennis Stevenson.

“I do too, and I think it’s a step in the right direction for the office,” Allan said.

In prior meetings, the recorder’s office said this project would help clear space in its vault, enable citizens to access the records online at the Iowa Land Record website and provide an alternate to the antiquated microfilm system the office currently has in place.

This move would fall in line with the other steps the county has taken toward emergency preparedness.

In total, 246,000 real estate records and 5,000 subdivision and survey plats, which are currently enclosed in more than 234 binders, would be scanned. These records date from 1988 to mid-1999.

The recorder’s office will cover $30,000 of the expenses and the county will fund the remainder through capitol project funds.

In other business, Paul Bleeker, co-owner of the Capitol II Theatre, received permission to use the courthouse lawn for a community tailgate of the Iowa State University and University of Iowa football game from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 13.

Bleeker said they would use the lawn to allow people to bring their own tailgate games and that food vendors would be available since the event falls at the same time as the Cruisin’ to Newton car show, which will also be on the square that day. No alcohol would be served.

“A lot of good is coming our way on this square,” said board chair Joe Brock.

Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6532 or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.